Turkey Citizenship

Travelling and going on business trips
to 120+ countries without visas

$400,000+

Investment amount

6—8 months

Obtaining period

3 years

Investment return

Turkey’s citizenship by investment program is one of the most popular ones among investors.

Cosmopolitans can obtain second citizenship by investing $400,000+ in the country’s economy. Five options are available: purchase of real estate or units of an investment fund or bonds, participation in the share capital of a Turkish company, and opening of a deposit in a Turkish bank.

The purchase of real estate is the most demanded option. Real estate prices grow by 15 to 25% per year in Turkey.

Family members such as spouses and children can get second citizenship in Turkey with the investor.

Benefits of Turkey citizenship

  • 1

    Travel to the Schengen Area

    Citizens of Turkey can get a C-2 Schengen visa for 5 years. The visa allows citizens to stay in the Schengen countries for up to 90 days out of 180.

  • 2

    Visa-free entry to 120+ countries

    Holders of the Turkish passport visit 126 countries without a visa: they freely enter Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and other countries.

  • 3

    “Safe haven”

    Investors can go to Turkey anytime, even if the borders are closed. It is crucial in an emergency: a political crisis, epidemic, or threat to the safety of family members.

    The second citizenship gives the right to live, work, study, and run a business in Turkey without restrictions.

  • 4

    E-2 business visa to the USA

    Turkish citizens can get E-2 visas, allowing investors and their families to live and work in the USA. The investor opens or buys a business in the USA to get a visa. The minimum investment sum is not defined, but applicants usually invest $100,000+ in a business project.

  • 5

    Tourist visa to the USA

    Investors with Turkey citizenship can get a В-1/В-2 visa to the USA. They apply and pass an interview in US consulates in Turkey, e.g. in Istanbul or Ankara.

  • 6

    Prospect of investment return

    The investor can return the money three years after obtaining citizenship in Turkey — by selling the investment real estate. There are no sale restrictions.

  • 7

    Easy path to citizenship for a family

    There’s no need to take exams or live in Turkey for the citizenship-by-investment program participants. The procedure of obtaining a passport takes several months.

    Investors’ spouses and minor children may also acquire Turkey citizenship.

  • 8

    Profitable investment

    Applicants may buy real estate or securities, open deposits, or invest in businesses to get Turkey citizenship. Some investments may be very promising: for example, the cost of Turkish residential properties has grown about six times since 2015.

  • 9

    Right to keep other passports

    Turkey allows its citizens to have multiple citizenships. Investors and their family members may keep previous passports if other countries allow it.

120+ visa-free countries with a Turkish passport

Asia

Japan

Singapore

Thailand

+ 21 countries

Africa

Botswana

Morocco

Seychelles+ 42 countries

Europe

Albania

Moldova

Montenegro

+ 16 countries

Oceania

Fiji

Micronesia

Vanuatu

+ 6 countries

Caribbean

Bahamas

Barbados

Haiti

+ 8 countries

Americas

Argentina

Brazil

Chile

+ 15 countries

price

Guide to obtaining Turkey citizenship

  • Step-by-step procedure

  • Requirements for applicants

  • Required documents

  • Answers to frequently asked questions

Who can get Turkish citizenship?

  • Investor

    • Over 18

    • No criminal records or prosecutions

    • No serious illnesses

    • Capable of confirming the legality of the income

  • Spouse

  • Children

    Under 18

Investment options for Turkey citizenship

The Turkish program offers five investment options:
1. Purchase of real estate — $400,000+
2. Business investments — $500,000+
3. Bank deposit — $500,000+
4. Purchase of government bonds — $500,000+
5. Purchase of units in an investment fund — $500,000+

Under the Turkish Citizenship Law, the investment sum is set in US dollars due to the volatility of the national currency.

1 option

Real estate purchase $400,000+

95% of investors choose real estate purchases because prices grow by 15 to 25% yearly in the Turkish real estate market. And in 2022, there was a price jump of 60–70% if counting in US dollars.

Investors can purchase housing and commercial facilities. A land plot can be purchased if it has a building worth at least $400,000 or a building permit is issued. Shares are not allowed. 

After three years, the property can be sold to anyone, but there’s a pitfall: the buyer won’t be able to apply for Turkey citizenship by investment.

One can buy several properties for a cumulative price of $400,000 if they already have TAPU for each of them, which is a document that proves ownership. If TAPU still needs to be obtained, an applicant should provide a preliminary sales agreement that includes all the properties.

The investment amount doesn’t depend on the investor’s family composition.

Expenses

Investor

Purchase of real estate

$400,000

Related taxes and fees

$14,000+

Government fees under the citizenship program

$574 per family member

2 option

Business investments $500,000+

Investments are made in the capital stock of a Turkish company. Another option is to open your own company, which will create at least 50 jobs. After three years, the investor can sell his share in the business.

3 option

Deposit in a Turkish bank $500,000+

The investor can withdraw funds from the account three years later.

4 option

Purchase of units in an investment fund $500,000+

The investor can sell the units three years later. During ownership, the investor receives passive income.

5 option

Purchase of government bonds $500,000+

The investor can sell the bonds three years later.

Individual cost calculation for Turkey citizenship

Individual cost calculation for Turkey citizenship

Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees

Schedule a meeting

Individual selection of investment properties

  • Discuss your tasks and goals

  • Choose between properties from reliable developers

  • Get fully prepared and verified documents for a purchase

Elena Kozyreva
Elena Kozyreva

Managing Director for Real Estate projects

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Step-by-step procedure for obtaining Turkey citizenship

1

1 day

Preliminary Due Diligence

Immigrant Invest conducts its own preliminary Due Diligence to identify rejection risks and find a solution in advance.

The preliminary check is entirely confidential. An investor provides only their passport.

Immigrant Invest has its own Compliance Department. Clients’ documents are checked by a certified Anti Money Laundering Officer.

The preliminary Due Diligence lowers the risk of citizenship denial to 1%.

Evaluate your chances of passing Due Diligence

Pass a quick test and learn the nuances that can prevent you from obtaining a second citizenship

2

2 to 4 weeks

Preparation of documents

Immigrant Invest lawyers provide the investor with a list of documents required to participate in the program. When the documents are received, the lawyers prepare them for application: the documents are translated, copies are certified, and government forms are filled out.

3

Along with the preparation of documents

Purchase of real estate

The Immigrant Invest real estate department selects properties that meet the investor’s requirements. For example, it can be an apartment for rent or purchase of property under construction. Our lawyers check the clean title to a property and the contract terms.

The investor chooses a property and makes an advance payment of $1,000—5,000. Then, the sale and purchase contract is signed and paid: it includes the total property cost minus the advance payment.

4

5 to 6 weeks

Preparation of documents for real estate

Immigrant Invest lawyers help get a certificate of ownership and a VAT exemption of 0% per transaction. We also receive two conclusions: an assessment of the property value and a report on real estate compliance with the conditions of the Turkish citizenship program.

5

Up to 4 weeks

Getting a residence permit and applying for citizenship

The investor gets a Turkey residence permit as a citizenship program participant after they buy a qualifying property. 

The investor must be present at the migration service in Turkey when the citizenship application is submitted. If the investor’s family obtain citizenship, the spouse’s presence is also required. Children may not attend the application procedure.

The investor and their spouse pass fingerprinting and take photos for their passports at the migration service.

6

3 to 4 months

Due Diligence

The citizenship by investment unit conducts Due Diligence, which takes 3—4 months. Specialists study the investors' documents and check information about them and their families in international databases.

Due Diligence is the decisive stage of the program. The results of the check define whether the applicants will receive citizenship.

Learn more about Due Diligence

7

At least 2 days

Getting a passport

After the approval of the application, the investor receives a passport. It is unnecessary to come to Turkey to get a passport: the document can be obtained at a Turkish embassy or a consulate in another country.

If the investor wants to get an ID card, it is necessary to submit fingerprints. Fingerprinting is usually organised at a Turkish embassy, or the investor visits the country. The ID card will be ready in 2—3 weeks after fingerprinting.

Schedule a meeting

Let's discuss the details

Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.

Vladlena Baranova
Vladlena Baranova

Lawyer, AML Compliance officer, certified CAMS specialist

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Frequently asked questions

  • Can I get Turkish citizenship by buying a house?

    Yes, you can obtain Turkey citizenship by investing in real estate. The minimum cost of your properties must be $400,000.

    Investors may purchase residential or commercial properties and land plots. Shares are not allowed. After three years, the property may be sold, but the buyer won’t be able to apply for Turkey citizenship.

  • How long does it take to get Turkish citizenship by investment?

    Obtaining Turkey citizenship by investment typically takes 6—8 months.

    Usually, the longest stage is Due Diligence — a check that is conducted to ensure that applicants fit the program’s requirements. It may take 3—4 months.

  • Do you guarantee that I will get a Turkish passport by investment?

    No one can guarantee that you will obtain citizenship by investment. Moreover, if a company claims a 100% guarantee, you probably deal with scammers.

    Immigrant Invest has a Compliance Department. We conduct a preliminary check of applicants to identify the risk of rejection and find solutions to possible problems. Thanks to this, most of our clients successfully pass Due Diligence and get citizenship.

  • How to return the investment?

    Choose the option of purchasing real estate. The property can be sold after 3 years, and the money returned.

    As long as the investor owns the property, they can receive income from renting real estate. Some developers predict rental yield at 8% per annum in US dollars. The investor pays a capital gains tax of 35% on the rental income.

  • Do I need to come to Turkey to get a passport?

    The investor must be present at the migration service office in Turkey to apply for citizenship. There are no requirements to reside in Turkey.

  • What are the additional costs under the program?

    In addition to the cost of real estate, the applicant pays state and notary fees and pays for the property examination. Related costs amount to about 5% of the property value.

  • Can I apply for Turkey citizenship by investment myself?

    No, by law, only a licensed program agent can apply on behalf of an investor.

  • Is it possible to obtain citizenship for the investor’s family members?

    Their spouse and minor children under 18 can participate in the investment program with the investor. It is also possible for the investor’s parents and children over 18 to get a residence permit.

    The fee for a residence permit under the investor program is $5,000 per person. One can apply for a residence permit simultaneously with the investor’s application for citizenship or after the investor has received a Turkish passport.

Schedule a meeting

Let's discuss the details

We will develop an individual solution, select a country and status that will solve your problems, and accompany the entire process.

Zlata Erlach
Zlata Erlach

Head of the Austrian office

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